The Selma City Council voted last week to allow department heads to reside within the city or county limits.

Since 2014, department heads have been required to live within the city limits. The rule affected department heads across the city, including the police and fire departments.

Back in August, former Mayor George Evans said the requirement would prevent several fire department employees from being promoted to battalion chief.

City Council President Corey Bowie said the change would give the city more flexibility and give current employees the chance for promotions.

“You want the best people to lead the departments. You are pretty much marginalizing the opportunity for people to move forward,” Bowie said.

The residency requirement would have also affected City Clerk Ivy Harrison, who was reappointed to that position last week.

“Our city clerk — you are looking at experience there,” Bowie said. “It would have basically eliminated her from serving as a department head unless she moved within the city.”

Prior to 2014, department heads were required to live within Dallas County. The changes approved last week revives that policy.

Bowie said he thinks the city’s department heads will still have a vested interest in the city whether they live within its limits or not.

“In my opinion, if you are a department head, you are going to have a vested interest in the city,” Bowie said. “You are going to be spending tax dollars, going out to eat, shopping, paying sales taxes.”

In past meetings, council members have talked about adopting a policy and being consistent with it.

“We have to stop moving ordinances and codes and things for our friends,” Councilwoman Angela Benjamin said in August. “We need to make up our minds. Do we want them to live in the city or do we not?”

The new policy was approved without any council members speaking for or against the change. The item was approved unanimously by present council members as part of the consent agenda.

All council members were present except for Susan Keith, who had a death in her family. In past meetings, Keith has spoken in favor of requiring department heads to live within the city limits.